Illuminated reflecting-sign



Fams @fem E39 @EL Z SHEETS-SHEET mx 'l para star CHARLES W. RAINKE, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ILLUMINATED REFLECIINGr-SIGN.

Application filed. June 30,

To all whom if may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES lV. RAINKE,

a citizen of the United State-s, residing at Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Reflecting-Signs, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is the provision of signs, and letters and other characters for signs, illuminated by a plurality Yof reflecting,elementsE receiving light from one or more lamps.

Another object is the provision of a particularly designed reflecting element for elliciently and intensely/reflectinfr the light so as to produce the same effect upon a spectator as would alamp.

Another objectl is the provision of novel and eiiicient means and combinations of parts for mounting .said reflectors and lamps, so as to make the same most elfective and efficient, as well as practical and suf ciently inexpensive to enable the same to be sold at a reasonable cost on the market.

The 'above and other objects vwill become apparent in the description below, in which like-named characters of reference refer to like-named partsin the drawings.

Referring briefly to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevational View ofA a complete letter made in accorda-nce with my invention. l.

Fig. 2 is across-sectional View of the same on the line 2-2 of vFig. 1.,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, central longitudinal cross-sectional View, in elevation, of one of the reflector elements, showing also the means oflinounting the same.

Fig. 4 "s an underside plan View of the portion of the sign or letter shown in Fig. 3.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly in section, showing one of the illuminated lamps and the means which I provide thereon to enhance the efiiciency ofmy device.

F ig. 6 is an end view of, the lamp shown in il ig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the mounting frame of my device, show ing the means for securing a reflector element therein.

specicauoirbf Letters Patent.

1921. seal un. 481,574.

will also become apparent, in the following description. e

Referring briefly to the drawings, the numeral -1 represents a rectangular /frame' having a sheet of rigid, preferably metallic, material inclosing the same, shown at 2.

The form 3 of `a letter isinclosedby walls 6 extending normally" from. the surface 2, said form being provided with a series of spaced apart reflector lelements generally represented at 4. ,'llple walls 6 rise to a height from the' srface 2 slightly greater than the height ofthe-reflectors 4 above said surface, and the sides of said Walls are preferably black, asis also the surface 7 inclosed by the letter 3. The surface 8' between the letter 3 and the frame 1 may be of any color or shade desired.

The reflector element 4 constitutes a substantially cylindrical, hollow glass body hav ng a portionv of its surface .formed at an inclination to the axis of ythe body, shown at l9, said surface being sub tantially e1liptically convex. and being well represented as a. belly Thebody ofithe element 4 extends .in a ridge or edge lll` around said belly, leaving a slight groove l1() about the periphery of the belly. A stem 12, also hollow, extends from the body 4l IThe entire interior of the body 4 and'stlem 12 is silver'ed or otherwise treated to cause the exterior surfacepf the element to act as a reflector.

cap 13 fits about the yJstem 12, both the exterior surface of said syem and the cylindrical portion :of said ,f,f'cap, being screw threaded.4 In assemblifg the reflectors, a

cement or other blinder` used Softhat. once the cap iseinl'position about the stern. it reratealee sept. is, roei.v f

mains there permanently, and provides a."

permanentfa-ir-tight closure for, the body of the element, thus preventing 'injury or loss of perfection on the reflecting surface of the element. Q 4

For mounting the reflector elements, poitions ofthenaterial 2 are cut away so as to provide an opening 16 of the form shown. The material thus cut away is bent back at right angles to the member 2, So as to form a'shank or tongue 15 possessing resiliency,

The edge 1,7 of the opening 16, directly op posite the tongue 15, is of a curvature having a larger diameter than the curvature of the cap 13. as shown by tlie dotted line 1T in Fig. 4. By this provision, the stem '12 may ,be screwed into the opening 16, for the edge lll iff-will act as a portion olf a thread and will cngijage the threads li ot said stem. At the saine time theI torce olf the resilient tongue 15 urging against the eide ot' said stein will tend to torce thc latter toward the edge li" so as 'to cause engagement ot the threads 1l with id edge i7. i

The illuminatiinr lamp 18 ie situated centrally of the letter 23. tlie-ean1e being` invisible in Fin', l under the Cover 2l.. YWhen colored light is desired, a ehi'eld 'i9 of mica or other tranriparent niatrerial ofthe color desired is formed of a single sheet having the ends joined at 20. and iswedged upon the 'tapered surface of the lamp so as to hold the sanne securely. .if colored light is not desired` said shield is omitted.

The usual lamp .shade socket, comprised of two clamp-like members 21 and 22, may oe used for the lamp. l. provide a Special shade 23 secured between said members as shown, said shade extending partway along; the length oit the lamp 18, and being blaclc or darkened on the surface. A cover 2l of substantially the torln of a bell, having' a plurality ot spaced apart ,spring clips or tongues E25 eut out therefrom, is provided over the end ot' the lamp 18, and extends about said lamp over about one-halt of the length of the latter. Thus there is provided a space between the shade 23 and cover 2lthrough which a band of light may paSs rorn lamp.

when the whole letter or sign is eet up., all ot the reflecting` elements el are so placed that. an imaginarj,r plane passin radially from the axis of the lainp to the axis of the rellector, would divide the belly Y9 in two equal parte. rThe light radiating' 'from the ,light band or belt just mentioned then strikes the reflectors and the inclined sur V:aces thereot rellect the light 1n a direction Substantially atright angles to the traine l.

However, the provision of the belly 9 causes the latter to appear as a separate` intenseliv illuniinateih source ot' light. The actual source oit light is concealed by the cover 2l. The inside surface ot' the letter trame is black and therefore docs` not interfere with the deliniteucss ot thc outline ot the letter. The outer wall (3 prevents any ot the direct lightl from striking; the surface la. so that the outline ol' the letter is not interfered with.

'llhe whole device as described trulyv represents a sign or other attractive contriyance composed ot lamps instead ol reflectors. and the etl'ect is so pronounced that the uninitiated observer would believe that the clements forming' the lcttcr are lamps.

l claim:

l. A device of the class described compris ing a frame, a 'wall rising; from said traine and inclosing' the torni of a letter or the like. a. plurality ot' spaced apart reflector elcincnts mounted on'said traine within said wall` said wall extending to a distance troni said traine slightlyv greater than the height ot' said elements above Vsaid traine, a source otl light situated .substantiall)v centrally ot' said letter or the like. and means on said source ol light for preventiine iesuance of light therefrom excel'iting-in a band extending partway between the ends or" the axis-ot said source" of light.

2. A vreflectingelement comprising a subetantialljT cylindrical hollow body having au inclined Surface. said surface being provided with an. outwardly extending' belly, afgroove surrourulino said belly. a 'ridge surrounding said groove, a hollow stein extendingfroin said body, a cap sealed upon said stern, said cap being` provided with means for mountingiy said. rei'iecting element.

ln witness whereof l allix my signature.

CHARLES lV. RNKE.

Fil) i 

